Water Garden

Category: Nature > Garden

District: Vila Real > Vila Real > Mateus

Location

The Gardens of Solar de Mateus are situated in the parish of Mateus, about three kilometers from Vila Real, in northern Portugal. They extend around the Baroque palace that dominates the property, harmonizing with the rural landscape marked by vineyards, orchards, and small woods. The layout of the gardens follows the gently sloping terrain and reinforces the connection between the stately home and the agricultural fields that stretch to the south and east.

The ensemble is enclosed by walls and traversed by visual axes originating from the palace facades. The proximity of the national road does not break the sense of seclusion and serenity that characterizes the location, where the geometric layout and dense vegetation combine with the constant sound of water.

Composition and Structure

The gardens of Mateus present a complex and carefully organized composition. They develop on different levels, articulating boxwood parterres, staircases, ponds, and shaded areas. The design follows a Baroque logic but has been reinterpreted over the centuries, incorporating revivalist and romantic elements. The main axis departs from the rear facade of the manor house, passes through the boxwood tunnel, and extends to the agricultural areas, creating a continuous visual link between architecture and nature.

Among the various spaces, the Water Garden stands out, composed of three rectangular ponds arranged on successive levels and fed into one another. This small garden contrasts with the formal parterres and introduces a more intimate and cool atmosphere. In the adjacent areas, there are geometric compositions of trimmed boxwood, floral medallions, and hedges that form green arches, where seasonal flowers and small shrubs alternate.

Style and Evolution

The origin of the gardens dates back to the 18th century, the period when the architect Nicolau Nasoni designed the palace and influenced the initial landscape structure. However, the current configuration results from later interventions carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the names associated with their evolution are António Lino, Paulo Bensliman, and Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles, who introduced a modern reading of the space without breaking with the historical character of the ensemble.

This evolution has conferred a unique identity upon the gardens: Baroque elements, symmetry, axes, and parterres coexist with more naturalist areas, where Japanese camellias, common camellias, and large trees predominate. The water mirror in front of the main facade reinforces the monumentality of the manor, reflecting its image and accentuating the scenic effect of the ensemble.

Atmosphere and Perception

The visitor is guided through a sequence of contrasting environments. Near the house, the garden is ordered, with trimmed boxwoods and gravel paths framing the building. As one moves further, the vegetation becomes denser and the spaces more secluded, culminating in the boxwood tunnel and shaded avenues. Light, water, and the sound of the wind in the trees create an atmosphere of calm that extends throughout the property.

The Gardens of Solar de Mateus are a testament to the art of designing landscapes in harmony with architecture. The succession of spaces, the dialogue between order and nature, and the aesthetic care maintained over the centuries make this ensemble one of the most expressive examples of erudite Portuguese gardening.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt